Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) represents the district in which slain Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was born, and claims that he represents the Terry family as it seeks answers in his death. On June 28 as Congress weighed whether to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for withholding thousands of documents related to the Fast and Furious scandal, Dingell even declared that “as God is my judge” Congress will get the truth about what happened during that operation. But Dingell defended Attorney General Eric Holder from the congressional vote that found him in contempt of Congress for continuing to withhold tens of thousands of documents related both to Fast and Furious and to the DOJ letter, of February 4, 20011, that was so full of inaccuracies that the department later withdrew it.
“Operation Fast and Furious was a highly irresponsible operation that never should have occurred,” said Dingell on the floor of the House on June 28. “People on both sides of this aisle agree to that. The American people want the answers. And they deserve to have a proper, thorough and bipartisan investigation that gets them the truth.”
Holder, presumably, has the truth in those documents that are now under President Obama’s executive privilege claim.
Dingell continued: “My constituent, Brian Terry, wants the truth. From the grave. And his family asks that we get the truth. And with God as my judge, they deserve it, and they shall have it if I can get it for them.”
But Rep. Darrell Issa read a letter from the Terry family that made it clear that despite his words, Dingell does not represent the Terry family in any way.
“When you say you represent the family of Brian Terry, you do not,” began Issa. “The Terry family issued this statement, which I ask unanimous consent be placed into the record.” Issa continued: “His views don’t represent those of the Terry family nor does he speak for the Terry family, and he has never spoken to the Terry family. Secondly, his office sent us a condolence letter when Brian Terry was buried 18 months ago. That’s the last time we heard from him. Third, a year ago, after the Oversight and Government Reform Committee began its work, one of Brian Terry’s sisters called Rep. Dingell’s office seeking help and answers. No one from that office called back. Lastly, if Rep. Dingell truly wants to support the Terry family and honor Brian Terry, a son of Michigan, he and other members of Congress will call on the attorney general to immediately provide documents requested by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee .”
Dingell countered with a claim that his office is now trying to set up a meeting with the Terry family, long after Dingell claimed to speak for them and for their late son.
The Terry family supported the House resolution holding Holder in contempt, but Dingell voted against it.
(h/t Disrupt the Narrative)
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